Redstars Broken Trust

Chapter 9

It had been a few months since Red had left home, she hadn't seen her sisters at all. She made sure she had dragged herself far from their home when she had left, and now lived in a large, luxurious cave with a dazzling lake and a stream snaking its way to the mouth, eventually pooling into a pond. The ground was made of smooth rock, with illuminating cavern walls that rose into an arch over the top. There was an occasional drip of a leakage in the roof, and a puddle of water had appeared over time on the ground. Red now lived on top of a mountain peak, used to seeing its jagged tops sticking up at different elevations. It snowed constantly up where she was due to the freezing temperature, and she had gained muscles in her now broad shoulders from the constant climbing when she hunted, and the strength she needed to take down Eagles. She liked life better up here, she had learned how to become more independent, instead of relying on her older sisters for her food and shelter. Living by herself in a lonesome cave with silence and emptiness of other living things was much better than putting up with bickering fights, being bossed around, and treated like a kit. Red had felt more lonelier and juvenile ever since her mother had died, able to get away with things and unable to get in trouble from it. Her dark, russet fur was slicked down neatly shortly after her long, handy grooming. She was unable to sleep well due to the cold clumps of snow covering her body, melting into water due to the radiating heat from her body.
She let out a content sigh, rolling onto her back and sprawling out. Her pale yellow eyes transfixed on the entrance of the cave, as if waiting for a visitor. Although she liked the fact that she lived like a mountain lion, she did not like the loneliness that consumed her. It had taken over, and it became a feeling of second nature to her; constantly following her around. Red perked her ears at the distant screech of an eagle, and suddenly acknowledged the rumbling in her stomach. She rolled over so that she was laying flat on her stomach and hauled herself up. Taking a deep breath, she trotted over to the entrance, boldly lifting her head to welcome to crispy cold air. She exhaled, her breath clouding in front of her before dissolving into the furore morning. She took a step outside, her paw stepping into the glistening white snow, an erotic crunch sounding beneath her with each step she took. Reds whiskers quivered with excitement as she scanned the gray skies in search of her next meal. Her tail swished behind her as she instantly dropped down as reflex against the large bird's screech. It's near. She thought, a hunting strategy brewing in her head. She nearly buried herself in the snow, lowering so deeply into the white fluff that it was beginning to topple over onto her back. A blizzard must've hit this place while I was asleep. I don't remember the snow being this deep. She continued to think to herself, waiting insidiously for her catch. She inhaled sharply, her body straining as her breath hitched as a large, exotic bird beat down with its massive wings, black and white as it was. It let out another frenzied, ear splitting screech as if it had detected it's next victim. It began to close in on Red, it's beating wings now a drumming rhythm in her head. As she began to gather her haunches for her ferocious leap, an infuriated roar erupted behind her, closer to the cave. Reds eyes shrunk as she stilled, unable to move her body. Another maddened roar ripped out of the beasts mouth, followed by the the crunching of footsteps. Red slowly turned, as if her body was in slow motion, to be welcomed by a muscular, towering mountain lion. As if it had tracked down the same catch, it didn't seem to notice Red as it lunged right for the bird, clashing with it and bringing it to the ground with the lion on top. The eagle flailed, its wings beating against the exotic cat as it let out a series of shrieks, abruptly cut off as it fell limp in the snow, red liquid pouring from the gash in its throat. Red stared in horror as she watched the lion turn away from its hunt to come face to face with her. Now acknowledging her, it reacted in an enraged way, letting out monstrous roars as it bared its massive fangs at her, tipped in fresh blood. The cowering Red took a step back, whipped around and fled from the lion before it could assault. She ran down a sloping mountain top and plummeted into deep snow, landing safely in the soft, cold pillow of fluff. Her head resurfaced, with a pile of snow glittering on top of her head. She tipped her head to one side, allowing access for it to easily slide off while she thought with determination. Next time I will be ready, you'll see.